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Shamalama,
Here's some family history from my branch of the McCullochs which may shed some light on your information.

My g8-grandfather Samuel McCulloch emigrated from Ireland.
Samuel's mother died from a terrible famine. She gave most of her food to her children and there was not enough for her. This was approx. 1728 in Ireland.
In 1729 Samuel and his brother and father left for America. They first landed in New Jersey and stayed with a cousin. He was John McCulloch also.

Agnes Kennedy McCulloch, widow of (my g10-grandfather) Sir Godfrey McCulloch, raised Thomas McCullough in Ireland after his mother's death. He assumed the Irish spelling of the last name and his brother Samuel stayed with the Scottish spelling of McCulloch.

Samuel's mother died during the Irish Potato Famine at Ulster in 1728.

John McCulloch brought his two sons, Thomas and Samuel, to America between 1728 and December 1735.

Samuel's will was dated August 20, 1802 and proved April 24, 1802(sic), before it was written. It's possible the second 1802 should have been 1803 but who knows?

As to my g11-grandfather Alexander, it has been written: Alexander and his son Sir Godfrey, perpetrated cruelities against the widow of Gordon of Cardoness at Bush O' Bield. After "invading her ain hoose, did first beat her almost to death with the stilt wherewith she walked and then dragged her out of her hoose and left her upon the dunghill, which shortly thereafter was the cause of her death." The M'Cullochs were convivted and sentenced to a fine and imprisionment; this sentence was rescinded the next day.

1675 Sir Godfrey McCulloch succeeded to some doubtful rights.

1678 Sir Godfrey represented the Stewartry (Kirkcudbrights) in the Convention of Estates (Scottish Parliament).

1682 Sir Godfrey was appointed Sheriff-Depute of Stranraer. A commission was issued to him for "tendering the Test to Gentry and Commons within the Shire of Wigton." (Sir Godfrey was an anti-Covenanter).

1684 After this date, great animosity existed between Sir Godfrey and William Gorden. Sir Godfrey went to Gordon's house at Bussabiel to get some cattle released from pound. Both men were armed, but only Sir Godfrey fired. Gordon received a wound in the leg which proved fatal. Sir Godfrey fled to foreign parts. Years later he returned and lived in Edinburgh. One Sunday when he attended public worship, a Galloway gentleman recognized him and shouted, "Steik the door! There's a murderer in the Kirk." Sir Godfrey was arrested, tried and condemned to death. He was the last man to perish on the "Maiden," the Scottish equivalent of the guillotine. (Note: The Maiden is now in the Museum of Antiquities, Edinburgh.)

Sir Godfrey was beheaded 26th of March 1697. Major Walter MacCulloch of Ardwall tells this story: Several of Sir Godfrey's friends were present and caught Sir Godfrey's head as it was severed. The decapitated body rose from its kneeling position and ran 100 yards down the Royal Mile. Major Walter feels that Sir Godfrey should not have been executed; that he was framed by those who had most to gain by his death. Although a violent man, Sir Godfrey sternly refused to have anything to do with the brutal treatment of the Wigtown Martyrs, when those women were tied to stakes and drowned in the estuary of River Bladenoch.

The following is the last speech of Sir Godfrey M'Culloch, "Of Myretoun, Knight and Baronet, who was beheaded at the Cross of Edinburgh, the twenty sixth day of March, 1697: I Am brought here good People to give Satisfaction to justice, for the Slaughter of William Gordon designed of Cardines; and therefore I am obliged as a dying Man, to give a Faithfull and True Account of that matter.

I do declare in the Sight of God, I had no design against his Life, nor did I expect to see him, when I came where the Accident happened; I came there contrair to my Inclination, being pressed by these two Persons, who were the Principal Witnesses against me, (they declaring he was not out of Bed) that I might relieve their Goods he had poinded; I do freely forgive them, and I Pray heartily GOD may forgive them, for bringing me to that place.

When I was in England, I was oft times urged by several Persons, who declared that they had Commission from Castle-Stewart and his Lady, (now the Pursuers for my Blood) that I might give up the papers of these lands of Cardines, whereupon they promised not only a piece of money, but also to concur for procuring me a Remission; And I have been several times since in the Countrie, where the Misfortune happened, and where they lived, but never troubled by any of them; Although now after they have got themselves secured in these Lands without me, they have been very active in the Pursute, until at last they have got me to this Place.

I do acknowledge my Sentence is Just, and does not Repine; for albeit it was only a single wound in the Legg, by a shot of small Hail, which was neither intended, or could be forseen to be deadly; Yet I do believe, that God in his justice hath suffered me to fall in that miserable Accident, for which I am now to suffer, because of my many other Great and Grevious unrepented for Sins: I do therefore heartily forgive my Judges, Accusers, Witnesses, and all Others who have now, or at any time Injured me, as I wish to be Forgiven.

I Recommend my wife, and poor children to the Protection of the Almighty GOD, who doth take care of, and Provides for the widow and the Fatherless; And Prayes, that GOD may Stirr up an Enable their Friends and mine, to be Careful of them.

I have been Branded as being a Roman Catholick, which I altogether disown, and Declare, as the words of a Dying man, who am instantly to make my Appearance before the Great Tribunal of the Great GOD, that I die in the True Catholick Reformed Protestant Religion, Renouncing all Righteousness of my own, or any others; Relying only upon the Merits of Christ Jesus, through whose Blood, I hope to be Saved, and whom I Trust, will not only be my judge, But also, Advocate with the Father for my Redemption.

Now Dear Spectators, As my Last Request, Again and Again, I ernestly Desire and Begg, The Assistance of Your Fervent Prayers, That, Although I stand here Condemned by Man, I may be Absolved before the Tribunal of the Great God, That in place of this Scaffold I may enjoy a Throne of Glory; That this Violent Death may bring me to a Life of Glorious Rest, Eternal in the Heavens; And that in place of all these Spectators, I may be Accompanyed with an Innumerable Company of Saints and Angles, Singing, Hallelujah to the Great KING to all Eternity.

Now, O LORD, Remember me with that Love Thou bearest to Thy Own, O visite me with Thy Salvation, that I may see the Good of Thy Chosen ones, and may Glory in Thy Inheritance. LORD JESUS Purge me from all my Sins, and from this of Blood Guiltiness, Wash me in Thy Own Blood. Great are mine Iniquities, But Greater are the Mercies of GOD! O let me be amongst the number of those for whom CHRIST died; Be Thou my Advocate with the Father, Into Thy hands do I recommend my Spirit; Come, Lord Jesus Come, and receive my Soul, Amen.
Sic Subscribitur
Sir GODFREY M'CULLOCH

The foregone was Printed by John Reid, in Edinburgh, and are to be sold at his Printing House in Bells Wynd. 1697.

Agnes removed to Ireland with her children after Sir Godfreys death.

An earlier Alexander was also known as Cutlar McCulloch, and it is reported that the folks on the Isle of Man had a prayer to the effect:

God keep the house and all within
From Cut McCulloch and from sin.

Or as it was sometimes rendered:

Keep me, my good corn, and my sheep and bullocks
From Satan, from Sin, and those thievish McCullochs.

Tradition tells that one night, a grey haired patriarch had just uttered the above invocation when an ironical voice answered from outside his window:

Gudeman! Gudeman! Ye pray o'er late!
McCulloch's ship is at the Yate
[a landing place on the north of the island].